266 BRITISH (SEABIRDS. 
JACKDAW. 
Of all the land birds that frequent the coast this 
species, the Corvus monedula of Linnzeus and most 
other writers, is one of the most abundant and best 
known. Colonies of Jackdaws are established on 
most of our ocean cliffs, in some places, as at 
Bempton or Flamborough, mixed with sea-fowl, in 
others apart by themselves, The birds frequent 
these colonies all the year round, coming inland to 
feed at intervals each day, returning at nightfall to 
rest, in noisy cackling crowds. Sometimes the 
birds, where circumstances permit, may be seen 
feeding on the beach or rocks below their haunts. 
This bird is more or less gregarious all through the 
year, and some of its assemblages consist of several 
hundreds of pairs. Its food is chiefly composed of 
worms, insects, and grubs; but on the coast the 
bird picks up a variety of creatures from the sands. 
There can be little doubt that the Jackdaw pairs for 
life. The same breeding places, the same nests, are 
occupied year by year. It is a later breeder than 
the Rook, the eggs being laid during April and 
May. On the coast the nest is made in crevices 
and hollows in the cliffs; in Tor Bay a small cave is 
frequented, the nests being built in crannies near 
the roof. The nest is composed of sticks, turf, the 
stalks of marine plants, and litter from the fields, 
lined with dry grass, straws, fur, wool, and feathers. 
Some nests are much larger than others, the 
